Tuesday, 4 May 2010

Southern Europe or Kent?!! - 3.5.10

The Hoopoe and Iberian Chiffchaff.

If it wasn't for the freezing cold weather myself and my good birding friend Bob Harris could have been mistaken that we were in Europe and not in Kent as the birds seen were a long way from home! First stop was Walderslade near Chatham for a singing male Iberian Chiffchaff. The bird was singing both it's song and Common Chiffchaff but showed very well allowing for the photo above.

Next stop was Denge Marsh near Dungeness where despite the strong wind and showers we eventually saw 2 cracking adult Purple Herons flying over the small reedbed they were inhabiting. Unfortunately they didn't come out to play and be photographed. A Cuckoo also flew over.

A walk around the RSPB reserve saw a Lesser Whitethroat, 4 Yellow Wagtail, 14 summer plumaged Dunlin and a Hobby and on the way out 2 Whimbrel were seen along the access track.

A quick visit down to the sea saw 1 Black Tern at the patch with lots of 'commic terns' and a 1st summer Mediterranean Gull, a few Gannets were very distant, 10 Common Scoters flew East and on the Nuclear power station a male Black Redstart was singing but wasn't seen.

The final stop was Lenham Heath where eventually an elusive Hoopoe put in an a good show if a tad distant. A Willow Warbler was singing nearby.

About Me

Born and bred in Watford,Herts, I started birding when I was just 8 years old because the old next door neighbours garden was very overgrown and attracted birds to his and our gardens! I first went to the Watford RSPB group at 15 and then I joined the Herts Bird Club in the same year. I was on the Herts Bird Club committee for 3 years. I started twitching in September 2001 after i'd bought my RBA pager and within a week of owning it i'd added Red-Necked Stint and American Green Heron! I keep 2 main lists which can be seen above.